I'm smart enough to know that I'm dumb.

[Owen Lucas]

Funny you mention Gates and Musk; they were willing to entertain different thought than the given norms; perhaps open minded?

Open mindedness is the willingness to consider new ideas, perspectives, or information without prejudice, even if they contradict existing beliefs. Key traits include intellectual curiosity, empathy, and the ability to listen deeply, often involving a conscious effort to remove personal biases to understand opposing viewpoints.

For these 2, and many who have achieved a lot, despite IQ, grit has a lot to do with it. I don't mean grit just to study hard and get the degree, but to face the abyss and Elon says, chew glass, and go against the odds. Using that knowledge and instinct, which I think is some kind of subconscious IQ, to achieve massive goals.

 

[jcy]

If I'm so smart:

1) Why am I so mesmerized by good music and turn the volume up?
2) Why can wife, dog, daughters can all talk/finagle me into whatever pretzel they come up with?
3) Why can't I stop buying from Amazon?
4) Why did I eat that sugar bomb trail cookie?
5) Why can't I listen to every word my wife says?


There are five. Give me time for more!

the people/beasts around you figured out that you can only be manipulated by pandering to your limbic system. they don't risk ceding the high ground to you on cortex based reasoning, so they limit themselves to appealing to the emotions of the mark.
unfortunately the cortex only works to satisfy the demands of the limbic system, so there's no obvious path to achieving the goal of exercising full agency over one's free time and disposable income

 

[wemay]

"If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you." - Wile E. Coyote

 

[ripcord]

"If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you." - Wile E. Coyote

"Alligator riding lessons.
2nd lesson is free."